Swallowtail

I saw a beautiful card that the very talented Sandi MacIver did using the stamp set, Swallowtail, from the Spring Catalog.  You can see Sandi's stunning card on her blog by clicking HERE.  Sandi has a wonderful tutorial on her blog that shows how she made her card.

Below is the card that I cased.  I changed it up by popping up the wing of the swallowtail, and used the set, Elements of Style, for the background, and Blooming with Kindness for the saying.

Close up of the wing

Stamps: Swallowtail, Blooming with Kindness, Elements of Style

Inks: More Mustard, Marina Mist

Papers: Whisper White, Brushed Gold

Accessories: Gold EP, Heat Gun, Sponge Daubers, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Hearts a Flutter

I finally got the Stampin' Up! Hearts a Flutter Bundle on Tuesday and had fun making the card below.  I love, love that SU! are making stamp sets with coordinating framelits, and I especially love that I don't have to cut the images out anymore!  Details are below.........

Stamps: For the Birds
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Certainly Celery, Black Stazon
Papers: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts a Flutter Framelit Dies, Cloudy Day EF, Needlepoint Border EF, Apothecary Accents Framelit Dies, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Pearls, Retired Flower Trio Punch, Watercolor Brush, Dimensionals

Try Stampin' on Tuesday......

Below is the fun sketch for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge.  This sketch has great possibilities and the design team has some wonderful samples on the challenge blog; which you can find HERE.

And here is the card that I made for this challenge:

Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms

Inks: Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango

Papers: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Floral District DSP

Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Bird Punch (leaves), Pearls, Tangerine Tango Ribbon, Dimensionals

Hearts a Flutter LNS Challenge

This week's LNS challenge was to create a project using a heart.  I thought I would try a different take on this challenge, and added a heart with a sentiment on it and made the coffee cups/pot the main focal point.  To be honest, I am not 100% sure if I like how this card turned out.  Having a killer headache since Friday made it hard to concentrate on stamping........so below you can find my card - what do you think?  To much?

Stamps: Morning Cup
Inks: Cajun Craze, Midnight Muse, Soft Suede, Black Stazon IP
Papers: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Midnight Muse, Soft Suede, Comfort Cafe DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Chevron EF, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Corner Punch, Midnight Muse Ribbon, Hearts Collection Framelits, Cajun Craze Brads, CAD, Watercolor Brush, Sponge, Dimensionals

Snowmen - LNS Challenge!

This week's LNS challenge is to use a snowman in your project.  We have a new look to our blog challenges, and you can now load your challenges HERE.

When I went to check my stamps, I realized that I don't own one stamp set that has a snowman - no one!!  So I had to look for an alternative and came up with a snowman box using the Fancy Favor Bigx XL die.  I used the 1-1/4" circle punch for the cheeks and sponged some Cherry Cobbler on the edges.  A 3/4" and 1/4" circle punches for the eyes, and one of the petals from the Blossom Petals Builder Punch.  I added a snowflake from the Snow Flurry Die to cover the ribbon the ends.  I covered it with a Cherry Cobbler Button and added some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine.  I then added some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon at the bottom for accent.

Stamps: None
Inks: Basic Black Marker
Papers: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Fancy Favor Bigx XL Die, Snow Flurry Die, Square Lattice EF, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Blossom Petals Builder Punch, Cherry Cobbler Button, Gumball Green Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip Tape

LNS Challenge

I am excited to let you know that the LNS Challenge group has a new blog! You can find the link for the new challenge blog HERE! You can now load your challenge projects directly onto this blog instead of through Yahoo.

This week's challenge is to create a project using snowflakes. Below are two projects I created for this challenge. The first project is a card using the new Honeycomb EF from the new spring catalog. I love the texture this new embossing folders creates! I embossed some designer papers using this folder, cut them out and layered them on the honeycombs. The snowflakes were made using the Snow Flurry die, glimmer paper and DSP. Below is a list of items I used for this project.

Stamp Sets: Pennant Parade (saying)
Inks: Cherry Cobbler
Papers: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Be of Good Cheer DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Honeycomb EF, Snow Flurry Die, Glimmer Brad, Little Labels Punch Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Scissors, Dimensionals

I have been seeing these cute gift tags made into the shape of a coffee holder and thought it would make a cute project for this challenge as well.  The mug was pretty easy to make - you cut a piece of c/s 2-1/2" x 6-1/2 and score it at 3-1/4".  You then open up the tag and the cut an angle off 1/2" from the fold.  The belly band is 1" x 3", the top of the mug is 1" x 2-3/4" and I then used a corner round of the top edges.

Stamps: None
Inks: None
Papers: Very Vanilla, Be of Good Cheer DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry Folder, Snow Flurry Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Glimmer Brad, Gumball Green Ribbon, Brad, CAD, Dimensionals, Dimensionals

Ttry Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge

Happy New Year's Everyone!  I hope 2013 is filled with many blessings to you and your family!

It's Tuesday, and that means it's time for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday challenge!  We have a great sketch for you, which you can find below.  After you have created your work of art, you can load it on the Try Stampin' on Tuesday blog HERE.



For my take on this sketch I used the stamp set, Field Flowers, and paired it with the stamp sets, Four Frames and Itty Bitty Backgrounds.  The flower images were stamped using Wisteria Wonder Ink; one flower was stamped on scratch cardstock and then cut it out. I distressed the edge of the cardstock with a distressing tool. I used the new Needlepoint Border EF to make the impressions on the top and the bottom of the card. I ran the ribbon through a slider and then added a 5/8" Vanilla Flower (from the new spring catalog) over the slider.  Below is a list of items I used to make my card:

Stamps: Field Flowers, Four Frames, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Inks: Wisteria Wonder, Old Olive
Papers: Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Big Shot, Lacy Brocade EF, Needlepoint Border EF, Vanilla Flower, Old Olive Ribbon, Pearls, Slider, Decorative Label Punch, Distressing Tool, Dimensionals

Try Stampin' on Tuesday!

Merry Christmas everyone; may your Christmas be filled with much
love, laughter, joy and wonderful moments as we celebrate Jesus' Birthday!

Below is the sketch for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday! challenge.  I know it's Christmas and a very busy time of the year, but we hope that you'll find time to play along with us this week!  You can post your work of art HERE!

And below is the card that I made using one of the new SAB sets, Feeling Sentimental.  I thought it would pair nicely with the retired DSP, Mocha Morning Specialty that I recently purchased from the SU! clearance rack.  I embossed the Ferris wheel using Ivory EP, and then sponged some Soft Suede and Early Espresso around the image.  Next I lightly dragged an Early Espresso ink around the edges of both the saying and Ferris wheel image.  For the background piece, I used the new Honeycomb EF from the upcoming Spring catalog - isn't the texture really cool!?!  Here's a list of the rest of the items I used:

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental SAB
Inks: Early Espresso, Soft Suede
Papers: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Mocha Morning Specialty DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Honeycomb EF, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Paper Doily Sizzlits L Die, Neutral Button, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Brad, Sponges, Dimensionals

LNS Challenge

This week's LNS challenge it to make a 3D ornament and this challenge will run for 2 weeks.  I tried my hand at making the ornament on the front cover of the Holiday Catalog.  I found a great tutorial on PI that Catherine Pooler did on how to make one of these beautiful ornaments, and you can see her tutorial HERE.

For me, this ornament was a fun "learning experience.  Now that I have made my first ornament, I know the second one will go more smoothly as heat guns and I don't get along very well and I ended up with quite a bit of hot glue on my hands!

To make the ornament, you need 5 sets of each ornament - which means you need to stamp 40 ornaments/20 of each ornament.  I found it much easier when I was cutting out the stamped ornaments, to cut the large ornament the same time as I did a smaller ornaments (as shown in Catherine's video).

Here is my version of the ornament; one pic on the tree and other with it hanging by one of my windows:

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes
Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green
Papers: Very Vanilla, Be of Good Cheer DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Holiday Ornaments Framelit Dies, Cherry Cobbler 3-1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Large Pearl Basic Jewel, Cherry Cobbler, Dazzling Details, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Heat Gun with Glue, Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge

Good morning everyone and welcome to this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge!  We have another great challenge sketch for you!  Once you have created your own work of art, you can upload it on the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Blog and you can find the link HERE.

The following is this week's sketch:



And here is the card I created for the challenge:

This is the first time I used the set, For the Birds, and think it's such a cute set!  Here's a list of what I used:

Stamps: For the Birds
Inks: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Black StazOn IP
Papers: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Snow Festival DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits and coordinating Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, 1-1/4" Square Punch, White Baker's Twine, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Bell, Watercolor Brush, Dimensionals

LNS Gift Card Holder Challenge

I made the fun purse gift card holder for last week's LNS challenge.  The one thing that I love, love about our dies is that they make projects like this so simple to make!  I found a wonderful tutorial that Julie Buhler did on how to make the purse using the Top Note Die, and you can find it HERE.

I paired Be of Good Cheer DSP with Cherry Cobbler c/s for the purse front/back.  The top of the purse was made using the Scallop Circle and 3-1/2" Circle Bigz Dies.  I added a Christmas tree using the same DSP and the tree die from the Holiday Collections Framelits, and a star from the same Framelits using Red/Silver Glimmer Paper.

Stamps: Pennant Parade (saying), Joyous Celebrations (ribbon at botton of the tree)
Inks: Cherry Cobbler
Papers: Cherry Cobbler, Be of Good Cheer DSP, Red and Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Scallop Circle Bigz Die, 3-1/2" Circle Die, Holiday Collections Die, Little Labels Punch Pack, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Gumball Green Ribbon, CAD, White Brads, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Dimensionals

Serene Silhouette Case

Good morning......I saw a card on PI that the incredibly talented Michelle Zindorf crafted and I knew I wanted to try my hand at the direct to paper technique as well.  Below is Michelle's card, and she has a wonderful tutorial on her blog on how she created her card; which you can find HERE.



And below is my card; I changed it up by added a strip of black ribbon and brads at the corner.  I am amazed at how incredibly simply this technique is and how stunning the results are!  My colors are a little more mutted than hers, but I still like the results.

Stamps: Serene Silhouettes
Inks: Basic Black, Old Olive, Pool Party, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, So Saffron
Papers: Whisper White, Old Olive, Basic Black, Marina Mist
Accessories: Big Shot, Chevron EF, Basic Black Ribbon and Brads, Square Corner Punch, Sponges, Dimensionals, SAMJ

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge!

It's Tuesday and that can only mean that it's time for this week's Try Stampin' On Tuesday Challenge!!  We have a fun sketch for you this week that offers a lot of possibilities:

And here is the card that I created for this week's challenge:

Above is a close up of the Dazzling Details and Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz that I applied to the flowers.  Here is a list of what I used:

Stamps: Watercolor Winter, Joyous Celebrations (saying)

Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green

Papers: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Big Shot, Lacy Brocade EF, Top Note Die, Lots of Tags Sizzlits,  Gold Dazzle Marker, Dazzling Details, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Watercolor Brush, Dimensionals, Scissors

Now it is your turn!  Here's the link to play along: http://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.com/

Happy Stamping!

LNS Thursday Challenge

Happy Thursday!  Welcome to this week's LNS Challenge!  We are going to change the challenges up a bit this month and they will actually run for two weeks instead of one.  Gift card holders are the theme for this challenge and I actually made several for a craft show I did last week.  When you get done creating your work of art, you can upload it HERE.

I used a variety of different punches and dies for the gift card holders, and made the base of the holder using the Scallop Envelope Bigz Die

The following are some of the gift card holders that I was selling at the craft show.  And as you can see, they are still available to purchase for only $2.00 each!

Try Stampin' On Tuesday: Challenge #95

Try Stampin' On Tuesday: Challenge #95: 

I am so excited to be a part of the talented design team for Try Stampin' on Tuesdays!!  Please click on the link above to go to the blog.  Below is the sketch and the card I did for this week's challenge:



And here is my card; of course I had to use my favorite set, French Foliage, for this sketch!